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Many high-school graduates from affluent households are forgoing their first-choice colleges because of concerns over high tuition and debt after college. Some top-performing students are using their academic credentials to gain merit scholarships at their second- and third-choice schools, many of which are offering record amounts of aid in hopes of improving their own academic standing.

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A study conducted by the University of California, Los Angeles, found that 40% -- or about 1.3 million -- of California public high-school students do not participate in physical education classes and that more than 80% of teens fell short in meeting the federal standard on physical activity. "With the obesity epidemic that's happening, we need to be sure that our kids have good health habits, and part of that is physical activity," pediatrician and Assemblyman Richard Pan said.

Many states have dual-enrollment programs that allow students to earn a high-school diploma and amass college credits simultaneously. The Special Programs for Academic Nurturing -- or SPAN -- program through Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis targets advanced or gifted students who are seeking new challenges and may be underserved by a traditional high-school curriculum that is more focused on boosting reading and math achievement among struggling students.

More Colorado high-school students graduated on time in 2010 than in the previous year, new state data show. However, a separate report found that many incoming freshman students attending state colleges need remedial work. Research shows that students who need remediation in college are more likely to drop out. "We need to be taking more time earlier in children's academic careers to identify and address factors that lead them to this point," one child advocate said.

Many high schools are offering dual-enrollment programs, where they team up with colleges and universities to teach college-level classes to high-school students. Although credits don't always transfer, students earning high-school and college credit at the same time often save substantially on college tuition and can better define their academic interests. One high-school student graduated with more than 20 college credits and saved more than $7,200 in tuition at Iowa State University before he entered his first year there.

Top colleges are rejecting tens of thousands of top students this year, as more high schoolers with better qualifications are applying to a greater number of colleges. But while many students are initially crushed, surveys show most students end up in their first-choice school.